Who's got the button?
Last week, I met a woman I'm getting to know in Montréal, Diane, for coffee. She works in the design field, and has a style I'd call edge-of-edgy: not exactly avant-garde, but on the hip side of on-the-go style.
She was in a luminous sapphire-blue J. Crew velvet jacket, a cool black skirt and her signature aluminum-frame glasses. I'm not sure she's as "out" about her age as I am, so let's just say she is indeed appropriately in the Passage.
I especially liked how she wore her jacket that day–without a shirt or tee, which gave an uncluttered, clean line; nothing competed with the luxurious velvet.
But the detail I want to show is the button. Diane said the jacket came with sporty brown ones, and she found she just wasn't wearing it. She changed the buttons to silver gryphons and it now works with nearly everything she has.
Changing buttons is an overlooked strategy for upgrading, too. A dress looks much better with good buttons; a decent LBD can be nudged up to alluring by swapping, for example, a pedestrian plastic to an elegant silk knot.
Quality buttons can lift a cardi to heights plastic ones only dream of; glowing Czech glass buttons (set of six) from Ruby Lane seller Juvel-Vintage are $5.
Diane's buttons came from a Montréal shop, Boutique Rix Rax, but if you live nowhere near a good notions store, you can find great buttons on eBay or Etsy. The NYC-based Tender Buttons is a mecca which I'll visit when there next month; if you have a particular request, like woven leather buttons for a coat, they can help by mail.
Rare or antique buttons can approach the price of the original garment, but if you love the piece, you'll have years of buttoned-up bliss–and you can always keep the buttons when the garment wears out. (I'm still sorry that I passed up a set of barrel-shaped real amber buttons some years ago.)
I'm generally not into 'cute' buttons except for kids' clothes, but bend when the material is organic rather than plastic: ceramic, wood, mother of pearl. Why not cheek up the sober blazer whose buttons you can't even remember? Stockwell Ceramics offer an almost overwhelming selection of Union Jacks to jack up your jacket.
Lone buttons live on as pendants, especially when they're as exquisite as a ca. 1870 French one made into a necklace by veryDonna; price, $102 on Etsy. One hundred and forty years ago, weren't buttons astonishing?
Do you have something that would look sharper with fresh or better buttons? (That's not an insult; even designer clothes often chintz on them.) If you spring for a new set, as Diane did, it's a simple, smart tweak.
She was in a luminous sapphire-blue J. Crew velvet jacket, a cool black skirt and her signature aluminum-frame glasses. I'm not sure she's as "out" about her age as I am, so let's just say she is indeed appropriately in the Passage.
I especially liked how she wore her jacket that day–without a shirt or tee, which gave an uncluttered, clean line; nothing competed with the luxurious velvet.
But the detail I want to show is the button. Diane said the jacket came with sporty brown ones, and she found she just wasn't wearing it. She changed the buttons to silver gryphons and it now works with nearly everything she has.
Changing buttons is an overlooked strategy for upgrading, too. A dress looks much better with good buttons; a decent LBD can be nudged up to alluring by swapping, for example, a pedestrian plastic to an elegant silk knot.
Quality buttons can lift a cardi to heights plastic ones only dream of; glowing Czech glass buttons (set of six) from Ruby Lane seller Juvel-Vintage are $5.
Diane's buttons came from a Montréal shop, Boutique Rix Rax, but if you live nowhere near a good notions store, you can find great buttons on eBay or Etsy. The NYC-based Tender Buttons is a mecca which I'll visit when there next month; if you have a particular request, like woven leather buttons for a coat, they can help by mail.
Rare or antique buttons can approach the price of the original garment, but if you love the piece, you'll have years of buttoned-up bliss–and you can always keep the buttons when the garment wears out. (I'm still sorry that I passed up a set of barrel-shaped real amber buttons some years ago.)
I'm generally not into 'cute' buttons except for kids' clothes, but bend when the material is organic rather than plastic: ceramic, wood, mother of pearl. Why not cheek up the sober blazer whose buttons you can't even remember? Stockwell Ceramics offer an almost overwhelming selection of Union Jacks to jack up your jacket.
Lone buttons live on as pendants, especially when they're as exquisite as a ca. 1870 French one made into a necklace by veryDonna; price, $102 on Etsy. One hundred and forty years ago, weren't buttons astonishing?
Do you have something that would look sharper with fresh or better buttons? (That's not an insult; even designer clothes often chintz on them.) If you spring for a new set, as Diane did, it's a simple, smart tweak.
Comments
Some (not all) old, quality buttons are still in good shape when the time comes to discard a high-quality garment.
I love Diane's jacket. It does look sharp with nothing underneath, but I think une frileuse could layer a silk t underneath. The buttons do change its look dramatically.
Buttons are the unsung heros of a garment as you have pointed out.
Diane is very well dressed and how nice that you have made her acquaintance.
Making your own covered buttons (it's easy with little packaged kits) can also add a beautiful finish. A few years ago I found a ($7) velveteen coat second hand, removed the cheap buttons and half-belt, and shortened it to Edwardian jacket length, using the left-over fabric to cover new buttons. It became one of my favorite pieces, and women often asked me where I got it. As you say, even expensive manufacturers often skimp on this detail, and plastic buttons--unless they are really interesting--can leave clothes looking blah.
I used to work near Tender Buttons, a fascinating place to browse, though I couldn't afford the beauties I wanted. Those 18th-century buttons!
C.
I have not replaced any buttons on my own clothing, but assisted my husband in doing this for one of his blue blazers. There was nothing wrong with the original buttons, but I found a set of blazer buttons copied from George Washington's buttons and they are are lovely. When this blazers bites the dust, the buttons will move on to a new one.
Pseu: I think it's fun and see Susan's comment below... yum!
coffeeaddict: Those buttons sound divine, what a great reno!
materfamilias: Only changing one could look amusing but I think it's a greater challenge than changing all of them. Occasionally I have seen someone (even a designer) put a set of unmatched but relating buttons on a cardi.
hostess: We have buttons from our grandmothers on both sides of the family, and I have my mother's.
Kathy: Oh yes, thank for that tip.
Pam: Once you get button fever it's for life. I'd love to see your coat.
Shelley: Your buttons will find a home, maybe now that it's top of mind? Pls see C.'s comment.
C.: Sometimes I buy buttons (on donated clothes or on cards) for "someday" but am trying to break that habit as I have buttons that are 0ver 45 years old saved for "someday".
I'll go back to Tender Buttons just to workshop!
Susan@1:07: Mens' buttons are a form of jewelery they can wear unobtrusively and why not?
Susan@1:17: Thank you for this, the buttons are enticing and also like the idea of monograms; maybe just on cuffs, not a whole coat full.
Louise: I'm not sure what Diane's are made of, possibly pewter too? it takes a good eye to see beyond bad buttons!
I think buttons are very important and that they don´t get nearly the consideration they deserve. A change of buttons can transform a shirt, a coat, or a jacket. I do it all the time, and thrift stores are a great place to look for button treasure. It´s also something I often look for when I travel, since I live under a rock, shopping-wise...
new Nanette Lepore tunic sweater from a local consignment shop.
I love it immediately but the tunic sweater had a fluffy scarf wrapped around the waist which I disliked.
I explained my aversion to the sales
associate and she so kindly said
"don't buy it if you don't love it"
That's Boston for you! Still I knew I could make it better, purchased it and ran home, pulled the puffy scarf out and replaced it with a length of suede ribbon belt.
See, sometimes we can improve on things. Keep your eyes open to the possibilities.
Love it now, all the way.
Following on C's comment (Anonymous at 11:36). if you don't want to fiddle with covering buttons, there are still people who will do it for you (and cover belt buckles, too!) It used to be that the local Singer stores would have that service, but now it involves the mail unless you live in NYC.
Anon@6:53: I love this story on so many levels. Enjoy your find!
SewingLibrarian: Thanks for mentioning the resource. Mailing makes sense if it's too fiddly a task. I once about lost my mind making tiny covered buttons, I think maybe 30, for a long-ago wedding ensemble.
http://www.buttonmania.com.au/about
One of my grandmothers used to cut the buttons off of her clothes when she was done with them, so I've inherited some very lovely ones. The really special ones I like to put pin backs on them and wear as jewelry.